The 18-count (amended) charge is punishable under sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspects had earlier been arraigned alongside convicted pension thief John Yusuf before Justice Mohammed Talba.

However, as a result of that uproar that greeted the sentence meted out to Yusuf, the EFCC withdrew the trial of the remaining suspects from Justice Talba.

Justice Talba sentenced Yusuf to two years imprisonment, but gave him the option of a N750,000 fine.

The sentence infuriated many and drew uncomplimentary remarks both from within and outside the country against the judiciary.

The development caused the trial of the alleged pension thieves to be re-assigned to Justice Hussain Baba.

Count one of the amended charge alleged that the suspects conspired between January 2008 and June 2011, to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of N20.155 billion, an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The court fixed their trial for June 3 and 4, 2013.

Justice Talba said the bail granted the accused persons by the former judge should continue to run since they had complied with the conditions.

“In the same vein, the sixth accused (Attang) is granted bail on the same terms and conditions with other accused persons,” the judge said.

The indication given by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), not to oppose bail application, bearing in mind the fact that the case was transferred cleared the way for the accused person temporary freedom.

Justice Baba adjourned to June 3 and 4 for trial.

Outside the courtroom, a big drama was on. Relations of one of the suspects — Mrs Onyegbula—beat up some journalists trying to take her photograph after the proceedings.

Those manhandled include Femi Ipaye (TheNews), Jide Oyekunle (Daily Independent) and Rotimi Ósasona of National Mirror.

Let us all pray to the almighty God that true justice will be delivered this time around. Let us also pray that President jonathan will not grant state pardon to those found guilty even if they are from his village.

John

WHY IS THAT THEY DID NOT USE RELIGION IN THIS DEAL?

mbukar

John you got it right. Religion is not the problem is the greed and lawlessness. We should know that we have common enemy i.e class

jameselijah

Good pick! Religion is just an instrument they bring up when they quarrel about the sharing pattern for the loot which is the Nigerian state. The Nigeria handed to us by the colonialists is everyman for himself, God for us all. So the ruling elites of the tribes are doing kill and divide because NOBODY believes in this forced marriage where no marriage contract was ever signed regulating how we are to behave in the matrimonial home! Did you not notice how the relations of the woman pension thief were fighting to protect their benefactor? As far as they are concerned, she has done absolutely nothing wrong! That is the summary of Nigeria!

Coco-Bassey,Esu

where were policemen to arrest those relatives of madam looter,they suppose to hide their face in shame,if d journalist cannot get her face in d court,they can get from his office file and let see her thieving face and beside i know it will b business as usual,they continue to get bail and adjournment till 2029 since part of d money as pump into 2011 election campiegn

Tola

Can something good come from Jonah’s administration? I doubt it. This is a retrogressive govt I have ever seen. As usual, they’ll be let off the hook by giving them ridiculous judgment. Sell-out Abati & Basket-mouth Okupe would go online to defend the action again. Cluelessness is their watchword.

uraloman

Pls pay police retiree with what you have recovered from those thieves so far they are dying, you in authority remember Gods judgement that await you .

Ukah Augustine Obaah

The case if not messed up by the prosecution’s lack of tactics and intelligence will be concluded to the satisfaction of the Nigerians and the Nigerian state.

Kunle

Business as usual. This government should take the issue of corruption seriously. Amend the laws – I mean capital punishment shd be melted out to dos found guilty. This will deter people from this devilish act, its killing us all.

Nathan

This is another script being acted out. Get ready for pension thief part 2. Madoff’s case was resolved on record time. In Nigeria, steal big and buy your way through.

It is only when the punishment metted on this corrupt politicians is comeasurable with their crimes then, shall we (NIGERIANS) see a difference. If a man steal N1m nd he is asked to pay N50,000 fine for what he stole, you (THE COURT) are indirectly encouraging him to steal more.

anonymous

Even in their best moments, these armed robbers would not appear better than this; they look unfazed. However their true ages appear to be showing on them with this problem. They should be kept permanently; while Thief Ufoma Cyril Attang pastors their den of robbers as they buy and sell. Oles!

anonymous

If Onyegbula knows she doesn’t like medals, she should not have participated in this shameful olympics. Now that she has won “laurels”, she becomes a public property. Her pictures must be taken unfettered. Its just like Ufoma Cyril Attang refusing to be video-taped while preaching lies and fraud to her followers. Until this divine rejection, no one would know her heart as she smiles to kleihlight. They should ALL submit willingly to camreas. The public they robbed want to see their robbers. Esai has been long and deep-necked in this business.

With all these ugly developments happening here and there within every facet of Nigerian economy,it will not be false if i conclude that there is no govt in Nigeria but all we have is a set of day light robbers imported into the country by the devil and for the purpose of killing the good glory of Nigeria and her real citizens.Looking at the whole things,you will find out nothing is working in Nigeria.Our system is messed up and the unstoppable insect called corruption has dominated every place.From home to church,from church to every corner of the Nigerian society.Infact,it is very unfortunate and injurious to the human race that people are suffering hugely in the midst of plenty.But despite the present predicament of Nigeria,i am sure one thing is certain.God shall liberate Nigeria and the real Nigerians from their enemies soon and all the perpetrators of injustice and mega corruption shall vanish from this able country in jesus name

Nigeria should treat pen robbers in the same manner as gun robbers because both are criminal offense of armed robbery. If legal punishment for gun robbery is death penalty so it should be for pen robbery. We Nigerians hope that the corrupt Nigeria legal system will render reputable justice this time. I personally pity this Nigeria. God help us get reed of these criminals.